Page 362 - RUICHSS 2023 Proceeding

University of Ruhuna ISSN: 2706-0063
Matara, Sri Lanka

5.3. Recommendations for Policy Implications

The perceptions of female students with disabilities who participated in the
study were that there are still misconceptions about the inability to have sex

and body ugliness. Sexual and reproductive health literacy is neglected in

family, school, and university settings. Students with disabilities feel they have
limited opportunities to receive sexual and reproductive education, and the

epidemic has made that even more complicated. Orientation programmes
conducted at university entry were not sufficient to improve their safe and

secure practices of sexual and reproductive health in the educational setting.
Students with disabilities do not get to raise their voices during orientation,

and programmes should be conducted targeting them.

The study recommends valuing people with disabilities with dignity and worth
and providing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education for

students with disabilities. The study underscored the need for carefully
planned projects to educate students with disabilities about sexuality and

reproductive health, as respondents had limited knowledge and understanding

of these issues. The study recommends programmes targeting students with
disabilities to allow them to open up their stories in a healthy environment.

The study also pointed to a lack of sexual and reproductive health education
for students with disabilities, who are more likely to face negative attitudes

toward love, marriage, and sexuality. The study highlighted the importance of

removing these negative attitudes and empowering the disabled community.

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